Email from Smart Traveller

I got this email from Smart Traveller a few days ago advising ALL overseas travel should be reconsidered, so I thought I would share this with you.

We now advise all Australians to reconsider your need for overseas travel at this time.
Regardless of your destination, age or health, if your overseas travel is not essential, consider carefully whether now is the right time.

We have issued this advice for two principal reasons:

1. You may be more exposed to contracting COVID-19 while travelling overseas. You may come in contact with more people than usual, including during long-haul flights and in crowded airports. Health care systems in some countries will come under strain and may not be as well-equipped as Australia’s. If you’re sick, you may not have your normal support networks.
2. Overseas travel has become more complex and unpredictable. Many countries are introducing entry or movement restrictions. These are changing often and quickly. Your travel plans may be disrupted. You may be placed in quarantine or denied entry to some countries, and you will need to self-quarantine on return to Australia. Think about what this might mean for your health, and your family, work or study responsibilities.

There are some countries and regions in the world where we advise you 'do not travel'.

(If you do travel, get professional security advice. Your travel insurance policy might be void. The Australian Government may not be able to help you.)

These are mostly for security reasons but some are also because of a very high risk of coronavirus transmission. Do not travel to these places.

For all other destinations, you should reconsider your need to travel. This is a global advisory in light of the widespread nature of the COVID-19 outbreak and the significant measures in place to curb it. Individual country advisories may not yet display a ‘reconsider’ advice level. You should nevertheless reconsider your need to travel to all destinations. These country pages will be updated and remain an essential of source of information on country-specific risks and contact information.

If you’re overseas and can’t or don’t want to return to Australia, follow the advice of local authorities. Take care to minimise your risk of exposure to coronavirus.

Contact your airline, travel agent or insurance company to discuss your travel plans and options for cancelling or postponing current bookings, or to arrange flights back to Australia.

For more information see our Coronavirus (COVID-19) – information for Australian travellers page.

For urgent consular assistance contact:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 from within Australia
• +61 421 269 080 from SMS

For non-urgent inquiries, email smartraveller@dfat.gov.au